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Skyrim: Special Edition performs worse on PS4 Pro than on a standard PS4, according to a new report by Digital Foundry.
According to the report, while the Pro version manages to hit its 30fps target “by and large”, it can occasionally drop 2-3fps lower than the standard PS4 version due to its native 4K resolution.
“Sony emphasizes that games running on PS4 Pro must have frame-rates that are better than or equal to the game running on the standard PS4 console,” the report says. “However, that’s not the case with Skyrim, where the increase in resolution can lead to a visible drop in performance in scenes where the GPU is pushed more heavily.
“For example, scenes that feature use of alpha-heavy effects cause frame-rates to deviate from the desired 30fps target. In like-for-like situations, the PS4 Pro game sees a 2-3fps deficit, resulting in more noticeable stutter compared to the title running on the standard PS4 console. The base PS4 performance isn’t impacted to the same degree, with only a few 1-3fps drops cropping up on occasion across a general run of play.”
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Performance is unlikely to improve when playing on a 1080p screen, either, where the Pro version is said to supersample its native 4K resolution down to 1080p.
“As such, the experience doesn’t feel quite as smooth when running at 4K, with more substantial hitches when moving through detailed environments,” the report continues. “It’s not a deal-breaker and by and large, the 30fps performance target is met. However, the drop in frame-rates does feel like step down from the more consistent 30fps update present across the standard PS4 and Xbox One consoles running the game, and that’s a shame as the jump to 4K really does provide a tangible upgrade in visual quality in other areas.”
Even with the frame rate hitches, though, the PS4 Pro version can be “ever-so-slightly better-looking”, the report adds, thanks to its improved image quality and enhanced foliage draw distance.
But could more have been done for 1080p owners? Digital Foundry suggests – and I agree – that it would have been nice for Bethesda to have included a native 1080p option that brings the Pro version’s graphical detail more in line with the PC game’s Ultra settings.
PS4 Pro launches today for £349.99.
Source: eurogamer.net
